AGM 2012

The Society’s 2012 AGM took place on 12 June 2012 at the Embassy of Japan. The membership was well represented and we are grateful to all who attended and who took the time to vote by proxy.

Minutes of the 115th Annual General Meeting of The Japan Society

Held at the Embassy of Japan, 101-104 Piccadilly, London W1at 6.00 p.m. on Tuesday, 12 June 2012

Chairman’s Welcome

Christopher Purvis, the chairman, opened the meeting by welcoming all those present; he gave a particular welcome to the Society’s President, the Japanese Ambassador, Mr Keiichi Hayashi. This was the Ambassador’s second AGM since his posting to the Embassy in early 2011. It was also Christopher’s last AGM as chairman of the Society after six years in this role. He invited the Ambassador Hayashi to make a few comments.

Ambassador Hayashi

A little over a year had passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Ambassador Hiyashi spoke about the events of the last year reflecting on the importance of all those who had given their support to Japan. He made particular note of the generous support Japan had received from volunteers and fund raisers in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. He thanked the members of the Japan Society for all their efforts over the last year. He noted the close friendship between our two nations and in particular the way the Japan Society and the UK had worked alongside Japan in its recovery. The ambassador thanked Christopher Purvis for all his time and work during his tenure as the Society’s chairman.

Christopher Purvis

The chairman also took time to reflect on the unprecedented events of the last year noting that the Great East Japan Earthquake had dominated the work of the Society as it fulfilled its role at the heart of UK-Japan relations. The chairman touched on the work of the Society after a successful year on all fronts, which included lectures, business related events for members and non-members and an active schools programme.

Christopher Purvis described the improved financial situation of the Society, and touched, in particular, on its increased financial reserves. This was due in part to a change in the Society’s financial model; moving from a purely membership society to an organization with a broader educational remit with diversified funding sources.

The chairman reminded the meeting of the Society’s 125th anniversary in four years’ time and its potential financial importance. He thanked the Sean Curtin and Sandy Sano, the outgoing trustees, all the other trustees and volunteers as well as the office staff, for their continued support and hard work. Before turning to the ten items of formal business on the agenda, the chairman invited Members to make comments and questions.

Comments and Questions from Members

On behalf of the membership, Paul Dimond gave a vote of thanks to the chairman and commented on the successful linking of the Japan Society and Japan 21, which had been achieved with his guidance.

Sir Hugh Cortazzi made particular mention of the Society’s annual Proceedings and was pleased to hear that it would be published later this year. He was adamant that the Proceedings remained an important element of the Society’s work.

Agenda Items

Christopher Purvis explained that there were ten ordinary resolutions to be considered and that a show of hands instead of ballot papers would be used to pass them.

The following resolutions were passed:

To receive and adopt the audited annual accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2011 and the Trustees’ report.

To reappoint Richard Place Dobson as auditors and to authorize and the board to approve their remuneration as thought fit.

To elect Sir David Warren KCMG as chairman of the Japan Society with effect from 1 January 2013.

To elect the following Ordinary Trustees of the Company:

Graham Holden

Michiaki Nakamura

Tetsuro Terada

To re-elect the following Ordinary Trustees of the Company

Martin Day

Stephen McEnally

George Olcott

Michael Spencer

Following the formal business of the AGM, there was a short report on the Japan Society Tohoku Earthquake Relief Fund. The report included a presentation on progress in Tohoku as communities recover from the devastation of the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and, in particular, on the Society’s partnership with the Sanaburi Foundation in distributing funds.

Documents

If you wish to receive a hard copy of the annual accounts and Council Members’ report, please contact us.